Refrigerant circuit system

ABSTRACT

A refrigerant circuit for a vehicle heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system is disclosed, wherein the refrigerant circuit includes a combined component including an internal heat exchanger and an accumulator, and wherein a cost and difficulty of manufacture and assembly thereof are minimized, and an efficiency thereof is maximized.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of German Patent Application No. 102006038728.7 REFRIGERANT CIRCUIT SYSTEM filed on Aug. 11, 2006, hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally relates to a refrigerant circuit system and more particularly, to a refrigerant circuit system for a vehicle heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system (HVAC).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Refrigerant circuit systems that employ CO₂, as a refrigerant are particularly used in motor vehicle HVACs. Refrigerant circuit systems are provided with a compressor for compressing the gas and a gas cooler for cooling the gas discharged by the compressor. After the gas has been cooled down in the gas cooler, it flows into an internal heat exchanger. The internal heat exchanger functions to transfer heat within the system for supercooling from the high-pressure side to the low-pressure side, which is thereby heated. The high-pressure exit of the internal heat exchanger directs the refrigerant to an expansion member which reduces the pressure of the refrigerant. The expanding refrigerant is passed through an evaporator, to the outside of which air is directed which is thus cooled to serve for vehicle air conditioning. Coming from the evaporator the refrigerant is fed to the accumulator where the refrigerant is intermediately stored before a quantity of refrigerant required, dependent on the operational state, again reaches the compressor. Another function of the accumulator is to provide a refrigerant reserve stock to compensate for leakage losses which occur in the maintenance interval.

In HVACs, systems are increasingly used that contain two evaporators switched in parallel. In addition to the two evaporators switched in parallel, the refrigerant circuit of such a prior art HVAC includes a compressor, a gas cooler, an internal heat exchanger, and two expansion members arranged upstream of the two parallel evaporators. From a compressor, the refrigerant at high pressure reaches a gas cooler where the refrigerant is cooled by an environmental air current. Then the refrigerant flows over the high-pressure entrance into the internal heat exchanger and, after having passed the internal heat exchanger, over a high-pressure exit to a manifold connection. The manifold connection is located on the refrigerant line, the manifold, being established as a three-way screwed connector, dividing the refrigerant line into two branches which run parallel to each other. Downstream in each of the branches, first, an expansion member is disposed which the refrigerant reaches after having passed the manifold. In each of the two branches of the refrigerant line, the expanding refrigerant is then directed to an evaporator, to the outside of which air is directed, which on its part is cooled thereby to serve for vehicle air conditioning. Both branches then lead from the respective evaporator over two different entrances into a collector (accumulator), where the refrigerant is intermediately stored before over the low-pressure entrance it can flow into the internal heat exchanger and from there over the low-pressure exit reach the compressor again.

In such two-evaporator systems, additional manifold connections are required. Typically, these manifold connections are located on a refrigerant line thus requiring an additional screwing process each at both the high-pressure and low-pressure sides, as there is a second evaporator branch which in addition to the second evaporator includes a second expansion member upstream to the second evaporator. Thus, the increased number of screwing points and growing interconnection of the lines not only results in increased effort during manufacture, but also raised material costs.

Accordingly, it would be desirable to produce a refrigerant circuit system for use in vehicle HVACs, wherein a cost and difficulty of manufacture and assembly thereof are minimized, and an efficiency thereof is maximized.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Harmonious with the present invention, a refrigerant circuit system for use in vehicle HVACs, wherein a cost and difficulty of manufacture and assembly thereof are minimized, and an efficiency thereof is maximized, has surprisingly been discovered.

In one embodiment, a refrigerant circuit system comprises a compressor; a gas cooler in fluid communication with the compressor; a combined component in fluid communication with the compressor and the gas cooler, the combined component including an internal heat exchanger and an accumulator, the internal heat exchanger including a high-pressure entrance and a pair of high pressure exits, the accumulator including a pair of low pressure entrances and a low pressure exit; and a pair of branches including an evaporator and an expansion member, wherein one of the branches is in fluid communication with one of the high pressure exits of the internal heat exchanger and one of the low pressure entrances of the accumulator and the other of the branches is in fluid communication with the other of the high pressure exits of the internal heat exchanger and the other of the low pressure entrances of the accumulator.

In another embodiment, a refrigerant circuit system comprises a compressor; a gas cooler in fluid communication with the compressor; a combined component in fluid communication with the compressor and the gas cooler, the combined component including an internal heat exchanger and an accumulator, the internal heat exchanger including a high-pressure entrance and a pair of high pressure exits, the accumulator including a pair of low pressure entrances and a low pressure exit; a refrigerant line for interconnecting the gas cooler to the compressor, the gas cooler to the combined component, and the combined component to the compressor; and a pair of branches including an evaporator and an expansion member, wherein one of the branches is in fluid communication with one of the high pressure exits of the internal heat exchanger and one of the low pressure entrances of the accumulator and the other of the branches is in fluid communication with the other of the high pressure exits of the internal heat exchanger and the other of the low pressure entrances of the accumulator, and wherein the evaporators are disposed downstream of the expansion members, and the pair of branches form a parallel circuit from the combined component.

In another embodiment, a refrigerant circuit system comprises a compressor; a gas cooler in fluid communication with the compressor; a combined component in fluid communication with the compressor and the gas cooler, the combined component including an internal heat exchanger and an accumulator, the internal heat exchanger including a high-pressure entrance and a pair of high pressure exits, the accumulator including a pair of low pressure entrances and a low pressure exit; a refrigerant line for interconnecting the gas cooler to the compressor, the gas cooler to the combined component, and the combined component to the compressor; a pair of branches including an evaporator and an expansion member, wherein one of the branches is in fluid communication with one of the high pressure exits of the internal heat exchanger and one of the low pressure entrances of the accumulator and the other of the branches is in fluid communication with the other of the high pressure exits of the internal heat exchanger and the other of the low pressure entrances of the accumulator, and wherein the evaporators are disposed downstream of the expansion members, and the pair of branches form a parallel circuit from the combined component; and a manifold disposed on the combined component, wherein the manifold facilitates communication between the combined component and the pair of branches, the manifold including a first double connection element that facilitates communication between the manifold and the expansion member and manifold and the evaporator in one of the branches, and a second double connection element that facilitates communication between the manifold and the expansion member and the manifold and the evaporator in the other one of the branches.

The problem is solved by a refrigerant circuit system, particularly for a motor vehicle HVAC with CO₂ as refrigerant, the system provided with two evaporators switched in parallel as well as a combined component which includes an internal heat exchanger and an accumulator so that the functionalities of an internal heat exchanger and an accumulator are combined within one single component. The invention is characterized by that three-way screwing points, which in prior art are placed on the refrigerant lines, are shifted to the combined component comprising an accumulator and an internal heat exchanger.

In the refrigerant circuit system according to this invention, the refrigerant is directed along the refrigerant line over a compressor and a gas cooler into the high-pressure entrance of an internal heat exchanger which has to transfer within the system heat for supercooling from the high-pressure side to the low-pressure side which on its part is thereby heated. Downstream of the high-pressure exit of the internal heat exchanger, the refrigerant line divides into two different branches switched in parallel to each other, each provided with an expansion member and an evaporator downstream of each expansion member. According to the invention, the internal heat exchanger together with the accumulator forms one component in the form of a combined component. In this combined component, the refrigerant, which is passed through the internal heat exchanger on the high-pressure side thereof, comes into thermal contact with the refrigerant taken from the accumulator, where it has been intermediately stored on the low-pressure side thereof. According to the invention, the two parallel switched branches of the refrigerant line, in each of which an expansion member and an evaporator located downstream of the expansion member are disposed, start at one of the high-pressure exits of the combined component comprising an internal heat exchanger and an accumulator to end into a low-pressure entrance of the combined component. The low-pressure entrances of the combined component, comprising an internal heat exchanger and an accumulator, lead into the low-pressure accumulator region of the combined component, the region serving to intermediately store the refrigerant at low pressure. When the intermediately stored refrigerant is taken, the refrigerant flows over the low-pressure exit of the combined component comprising an internal heat exchanger and an accumulator along the refrigerant line again to the compressor so that the refrigerant circuit system is closed.

The principle of the invention is that the connection points to the two evaporators are shifted from the refrigerant lines (prior art) to the combined component comprising an accumulator and an internal heat exchanger. In order to achieve that, a manifold is disposed on the combined component comprising an internal heat exchanger and an accumulator in an embodiment of the invention. The manifold contains the screwing points for the connection of the combined component to the two branches switched parallel to each other.

In one embodiment, the manifold is equipped with double connection elements, which allows a minimization of the number of screwing points and simplifies the interconnection of the lines, resulting in a more clearly arranged line design.

The double connection elements ensure to make the connections of the combined component to one, in each case, of the parallel switched branches of the refrigerant line with expansion member and evaporator on both the high-pressure side and the low-pressure side.

A first double connection element includes two connections for the refrigerant line for the first branch of the parallel switched branches of the refrigerant line. One connection is at the first high-pressure exit from the combined component provided for that portion of the refrigerant line that leads from the first high-pressure exit to the first expansion member. A second connection, provided at the first low-pressure entrance, connects the first evaporator to the first low-pressure entrance of the combined component by means of the refrigerant line.

A second double connection element includes two connections for the refrigerant line in the second branch. This double connection element can be placed in parallel opposite to or in parallel above, or below, respectively, of the first double connection element. However, an arrangement is also possible where the double connection elements are placed in parallel at different levels and on opposite sides. In all cases, a first connection placed at the second high-pressure exit of the combined component is provided for the portion of the refrigerant line that leads from the second high-pressure exit to the second expansion member. A second connection placed at the second low-pressure entrance of the combined component serves to attach the portion of the refrigerant line that leads from the second evaporator to the second low-pressure entrance.

Typically, either one or two screws are required for fastening a double connection element which save time-intensive screwing operations.

Compared to prior art, the solution according to this invention facilitates a cost-effective and time-effective manufacture process.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from reading the following descriptions of several embodiments of the invention when considered in the light of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an HVAC system with two parallel switched evaporators according to the prior art;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an HVAC system with a combined component including an accumulator and an internal heat exchanger and two double connection blocks according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 a is a perspective view of a branch portion of the refrigerant line illustrated in FIG. 1 with two three-way screwing points located on the refrigerant line;

FIG. 3 b is a perspective view of a branch portion of the refrigerant line illustrated in FIG. 1 with one screwing point located on the refrigerant line;

FIG. 4 a is a perspective view of the combined component comprising an accumulator and an internal heat exchanger illustrated in FIG. 2 including a manifold with double connection elements and screwing points arranged opposite in parallel;

FIG. 4 b is a perspective view of the combined component of accumulator and internal heat exchanger illustrated in FIG. 2 including a manifold with double connection elements and screwing points arranged one above another;

FIGS. 5 a-5 f are detailed views of the manifold with connections placed opposite to each other illustrated in FIG. 4 a; and

FIGS. 6 a-6 f are detailed views of the manifold with connections placed one above another illustrated in FIG. 4 b.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following detailed description and appended drawings describe and illustrate various exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description and drawings serve to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any manner.

The block diagram of FIG. 1 shows a prior art HVAC usable to condition air in a vehicle. Such an HVAC has a refrigerant circuit system 1 employing a suitable refrigerant. From a compressor 2 the refrigerant flows through the refrigerant line 3 on the high-pressure side to a gas cooler 4, where the refrigerant is cooled by an environmental air flow. Then the refrigerant flows over the high-pressure entrance 5 into the internal heat exchanger 6 and after having passed the internal heat exchanger 6, over a high-pressure exit 7 to a manifold connection 8. The manifold connection 8 is placed on the refrigerant line 3, whereby the manifold 9 established as three-way screwing point divides the refrigerant line 3 into two branches 10, 11, which run parallel to each other. In each of the branches 10, 11, first, an expansion member 12, 13, respectively, is disposed downstream into which after having passed the manifold 9, the refrigerant flows. In both branches 10, 11 of the refrigerant line 3, the expanding refrigerant is directed to an evaporator 14, 15. Both branches 10, 11 of the refrigerant line 3 then lead from each of the evaporators 14, 15 over two different entrances 16, 17 into a collector 18 or accumulator, where the refrigerant is intermediately stored, before it can flow over the low-pressure entrance 19 into the internal heat exchanger 6 and from there over the low-pressure exit 20 into the compressor 2 again.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of an HVAC which is usable to condition air in a vehicle according to the present invention. The HVAC is provided with a refrigerant circuit system 21 employing a suitable refrigerant. From a compressor 22 the refrigerant flows through the refrigerant line 23 on the high-pressure side to a gas cooler 24, where the refrigerant is cooled by an environmental air flow. Then the refrigerant flows over the high-pressure entrance 25 into the internal heat exchanger 26, which is part of the combined component 27 which includes a accumulator 28 or accumulator and the internal heat exchanger 26. At a manifold 29, which includes two double connection elements 30, 31, the high-pressure exit of the internal heat exchanger 26 is divided into two single high-pressure exits 32, 33, which lead to two parallel branches 34, 35 of the refrigerant line 23. The first high-pressure exit 32 leading out of the internal heat exchanger 26 leads over the double connection element 30 into the first branch 34 of the refrigerant line 23. The second high-pressure exit 33 leading out of the internal heat exchanger 26 leads over the second double connection element 31 into the second branch 35 of the refrigerant line 23. In each of the branches 34, 35, the refrigerant is led to an expansion member 36, 37, respectively. From the expansion members 36, 37 the expanded refrigerant reaches a first evaporator 38 and a second evaporator 39, respectively. From the parallel switched evaporators 38, 39 the refrigerant line 23 again leads to the double connection elements 30, 31 of the manifold 29, respectively. Over the first low-pressure entrance 40 at the first double connection element 30 and over the second entrance 41 at the second double connection element 31, the refrigerant line 23 leads the refrigerant into the accumulator 28 of the combined component 27 and over the low-pressure exit 42 the refrigerant can reach the compressor 22 again so that the refrigerant circuit system 21 is closed.

In FIG. 3 a, a branch portion of the refrigerant line 3 according to prior art is shown, which provides the connection of the collector 18 and the internal heat exchanger 6, as well as to the parallel switched evaporators 14, 15 and the expansion members 12, 13 in both branches 10, 11 of the refrigerant line 3. Downstream of the high-pressure exit 7 of the internal heat exchanger 6, the manifold 9 that is established as a first three-way screwing point is disposed. The connection of the manifold 9 to the high-pressure exit 7 of the internal heat exchanger 6 is made through the refrigerant line 3 over the manifold connection 8. On the manifold 9 there is a screwing point 44. The manifold 9, as is seen in FIG. 3 a, divides the refrigerant line 3 into the first branch 10 and the second branch 11. Both branches 10, 11 of the refrigerant line 3 end in a second three-way screwing point leading to the manifold 43. From the manifold 43 the re-united refrigerant line 3 leads into an entrance of the collector 18. From the collector 18, another portion of the refrigerant line 3 leads over the low-pressure entrance 19 into the internal heat exchanger 6. As shown in FIG. 3 a, in this branching portion six screwing points 44 are used, whereby screwing points are used at each of the manifolds 9, 43 on the refrigerant line 3. This requires one additional screwing process on each the high-pressure side and the low-pressure side.

In FIG. 3 b, another embodiment of the branching portion of the refrigerant line 3 according to the prior art is shown. In this embodiment, the branching portion facilitates the connection between the collector 18 and the internal heat exchanger 6, as well as between the parallel switched evaporators and expansion members in both branches 10, 11.

In this embodiment, as opposed to the embodiment in FIG. 3 a, three of two screwing points 44 are established directly on the collector 18. Both branches 10, 11 of the refrigerant line 3 lead to the two different entrances 16, 17 to the collector 18. For fastening of the refrigerant line 3 to the entrances 16, 17, two of the three screwing points 44 on the collector 18 are provided. Also, the connection line from the collector 18 to the low-pressure entrance 19 of the internal heat exchanger 6 starts, for which another of the three screwing points 44 at the collector 18 is provided. Also in this embodiment of the branching portion, which also corresponds to the arrangement in the block diagram according to FIG. 1, six screwing points 44 altogether are required, whereby one screwing point 44 is placed on the manifold 9 on the refrigerant line 3.

FIG. 4 a shows the combined component 27 including the accumulator 28 and the internal heat exchanger 26 including the manifold 29 which provided with double connection elements 30, 31 that are arranged in parallel opposite to each other and with screwing points 44. The manifold 29 connects the combined component 27 to the two branches 34, 35 which are switched in parallel to each other from the refrigerant line 23. The second branch 34 of the refrigerant line 23 starts at the first high-pressure exit 32 and ends at the first low-pressure entrance 40. Fastening of the first branch 34 of the refrigerant line 23 to the high-pressure exit 32 and the first low-pressure entrance 40 is facilitated over the first double connection element 30. Fastening of the second branch 35 of the refrigerant line 23 to the second high-pressure exit 33 and to the second low-pressure entrance 41 is facilitated over the second double connection element 31. The double connection elements 30, 31, according to FIG. 4 a, include one screw for the screwing point 44. Due to the use of the double connection elements 30, 31 the number of screwing points 44 can be reduced from six as required by prior art according systems as shown in FIG. 3 a and FIG. 3 b to two as shown in FIG. 4 a.

FIG. 4 b shows the combined component 27 including the accumulator 28 and the internal heat exchanger 26 including the manifold 29 in a similar arrangement as in FIG. 4 a, but wherein the double connection elements 30, 31 and the two screwing points 44 are arranged in parallel above each other on one side of the combined component 27 rather than in parallel opposite to each other as shown in FIG. 4 a.

Due to the arrangements of the invention according to FIGS. 4 a and 4 b, the number of screwing points 44 is reduced to two but further, compared with prior art as shown in FIGS. 3 a and 3 b, interconnection of the refrigerant line 3 is substantially simplified.

FIG. 5 shows a detailed view of the manifold 29 with connections in parallel opposite to each other as shown in FIG. 4 a, without the double connection elements 30, 31 shown. The manifold 29 as a substantially rectangular placed-on body arranged on a cover 45 of the combined component 27 including the internal heat exchanger 26 and the accumulator 28. FIG. 5 a shows a side view of the manifold 29, which in this view appears as a rectangular, centrally positioned body placed on the cover 45. Along a central cylinder axis 46 of the combined component 27, the axis 46 running perpendicularly to a circular cover plate 47 of the cover 45, the right-side side view, according to FIG. 5 a, is substantially symmetrical.

FIG. 5 b shows a top view of the cover plate 47. Two longitudinal edges 48 of the manifold 29 run parallel, on both sides substantially equally distanced to a mirror symmetry axis 49 of the cover plate 47. An inner edge 50 of the manifold 29 runs perpendicular to both longitudinal edges 48 of the manifold 29 and to the mirror symmetry axis 49 of the cover plate 47, wherein the mirror symmetry axis 49 intersects the inner edge 50 of the manifold 29 at the center. An outer edge 51 of the manifold 29 is rounded in such a form that, as shown in the view in FIG. 5 b, the outer edge 51 is congruent to a cover edge 52. As shown in FIG. 5 b, the length of the longitudinal edges 48 of the manifold 29 is longer than a radius of the cover 45, but shorter than a diameter of the cover 45. The manifold 29 is arranged asymmetrically with respect to an axis 53 of the cover plate 47, the axis 53 being perpendicular to the mirror symmetry axis 49.

FIG. 5 c shows a front view of the manifold 29. As shown, the manifold 29 on a longitudinal side surface 54 is provided with a central, small circular screw hole 55 and on both sides thereof, two bigger circular holes 56, 57, wherein the low-pressure entrance hole 56 is on the one side and the high-pressure exit hole 57 is on the other side, the centers of which are on a common horizontal axis 58. The smaller central screw hole 55 establishes the screwing point 44 of a double connection element 30, 31. The wider low-pressure entrance hole 56, positioned approximately in the central region of the cover 45, serves as the entrance hole for the refrigerant at low pressure. The high-pressure exit hole 57, located in the edge region of the cover 45, serves as an exit hole for the refrigerant from the internal heat exchanger 26 at high pressure.

FIG. 5 d and FIG. 5 e, taken along the cutting planes A-A and B-B in FIG. 5 c, respectively, show sections along the cutting plane A-A and B-B, respectively, of the connection block seen in a direction parallel to the cylinder axis 46 of the combined component 27. As shown in FIG. 5 d, each of the longitudinal side surfaces includes a low-pressure entrance hole 56.1, 56.2 and a high-pressure exit hole 57.1, 57.2. The sectional view in FIG. 5 d also shows an internal low-pressure entrance manifold 59 and an internal high-pressure exit manifold 60. The inner low-pressure manifold 59 facilitates the connection of the two low-pressure entrance holes 56.1, 56.2 to the accumulator 28 of the combined component 27. In the center of a hollow channel 61.1, which extends from the first low-pressure entrance hole 56.1 to the second low-pressure entrance hole 56.2, a fusion channel 62 is arranged perpendicular to the hollow channel 61.1, in such a way that refrigerant flowing in from the low-pressure entrance holes 56.1, 56.2 is brought together in the fusion channel 62.

The inner high-pressure exit manifold 60 facilitates the connection of the two high-pressure exit holes 57.1, 57.2 to the internal heat exchanger 26 of the combined component 27. In the center of the hollow channel 61.2, which extends from the first high-pressure exit hole 57.1 to the second high-pressure exit hole 57.2, there is a circular hole of the connection channel 63 which runs perpendicular to the hollow channel 61.2, wherein the circular hole leads to the pipe of the internal heat exchanger 26.

The T-shaped arrangement of the internal low-pressure entrance manifold 59 is shown in FIG. 5 e by a sectional view along the cutting plane B-B according to FIG. 5 c. The hollow channel 61.1, which extends from the first low-pressure entrance hole 56.1 up to the second low-pressure entrance hole 56.2, is divided in the center by the fusion channel 62, which is positioned perpendicular to the hollow channel 61.1. The fusion channel extends from the hollow channel 61.1 through the interior of the cover 45 up to an inner surface of the cover 45.

FIG. 5 f shows an isometric representation of the cover 45 with a manifold 29, which on each of both longitudinal side surfaces 54 is provided with three different holes 55, 56, 57. The manifold 29 is substantially rectangular, with the exception of an edge side surface 64 at the outer edge 51 of the manifold 29, which is curved like the cover edge 52.

A detailed view of the manifold 29 with connections which are arranged parallel above another as shown in FIG. 4 b is shown in FIG. 6. The manifold 29 is a substantially rectangular body placed on a cover 45 of the combined component 27 including the internal heat exchanger 26 and the accumulator 28. FIG. 6 a shows a side view of the manifold 29, which in this view appears as a substantially rectangular body disposed off center from the cover 45. The connection block 29 of FIG. 6 is narrower and higher than the connection block 29 shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 6 b shows a top view of a cover plate 47. Both longitudinal edges 65, 66 of the manifold 29 run parallel to an axis 68 of the cover 45. An inner edge 67 of the manifold 29 runs perpendicular to both longitudinal edges 65, 66 and the axis 68 of the cover 45. The axis 68 of the cover 45 intersects the inner edge 67 outside of the center of the inner edge 67. An outer edge 69 of the manifold 29, however, is curved in such a form that, as shown in the top view in FIG. 6 b, the outer edge 69 is congruent to a cover edge 52. According to FIG. 6 b, the length of the longitudinal edges 65, 66 is longer than a radius of the cover 45, but shorter than a diameter of the cover 45.

FIG. 6 c shows a front view of the manifold 29 according to this embodiment of the invention. The manifold 29 on a longitudinal side surface 70 includes two central, small circular screw holes 71 formed above each other and on either side of two wider circular holes 72, 73, which are formed above each other. The wider holes 72, 73 formed above each other, on the one side, being low-pressure entrance holes 72 and, on the other side, high-pressure exit holes 73. Centers of the three upper circular holes 71, 72, 73 are located on a common upper horizontal axis 74 and centers of the three lower circular holes 71, 72, 73 are located on a lower horizontal axis 75, which is parallel to the upper horizontal axis 74. The smaller central screw holes 71 establish the screwing point 44 of double connection elements 30, 31. The bigger low-pressure entrance holes 72 formed above each other, which are formed approximately in the central region of the cover 45, serve as entrance holes for the refrigerant at low pressure. Both high-pressure exit holes 73 formed above each other, which are located in the edge region of the cover 45, serve as exit holes for the refrigerant from the internal heat exchanger 26 at high pressure.

Referring to the identification of the cutting planes A-A and B-B, respectively, of FIG. 6 c, in FIG. 6 d a section along the cutting plane A-A of the connection block 29 is shown in direction parallel to the cylinder axis 46 of the combined component 27. As shown in FIG. 6 d, only on the longitudinal side surface 70 below the longitudinal edge 65 are holes 71, 72, 73. The sectional view in FIG. 6 d shows an internal low-pressure entrance manifold 76 and an internal high-pressure exit manifold 77. The inner low-pressure manifold 76 connects the two low-pressure entrance holes 72 to the accumulator 28 of the combined component 27. Short entrance channels 78 lead into a fusion channel 79, which is positioned perpendicular to the entrance channels 78, in such a way that refrigerant flowing in from both low-pressure entrance holes 72 is brought together in the fusion channel 79.

The inner high-pressure exit manifold 77 connects the two high-pressure exit holes 73 to the internal heat exchanger 26 of the combined component 27. The short entrance channels 78 lead into a connection channel 80 which is positioned perpendicular to the entrance channels 78.

The F-shaped arrangement of the internal low-pressure entrance manifold 76 is shown in FIG. 6e as a sectional view along the cutting plane B-B shown in FIG. 6 c. The entrance channels 78 lead into the connection channel 80, which is aligned perpendicular to the entrance channels 78, wherein the connection channel 80 extends through an interior of the cover 45 up to an inner surface of the cover 45.

FIG. 6 f shows an isometric representation of the cover 45 with a manifold 29 which is provided with holes 71, 72, 73 only on the longitudinal side surface 70 below the longitudinal edge. The manifold 29 is substantially rectangular, with the exception of the edge side surface 64 below the outer edge 69 of the manifold 29, the edge side surface 64 being curved like the cover edge 52.

From the foregoing description, one ordinarily skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention and, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications to the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions. 

1. A refrigerant circuit comprising: a compressor; a gas cooler in fluid communication with the compressor; a combined component in fluid communication with the compressor and the gas cooler, the combined component including an internal heat exchanger and an accumulator, the internal heat exchanger including a high-pressure entrance and a pair of high pressure exits, the accumulator including a pair of low pressure entrances and a low pressure exit; a first branch including an evaporator and an expansion member, wherein the first branch is in fluid communication with one of the high pressure exits of the internal heat exchanger and one of the low pressure entrances of the accumulator; and a second branch including an evaporator and an expansion member, wherein the second branch is in fluid communication with the other of the high pressure exits of the internal heat exchanger and the other of the low pressure entrances of the accumulator.
 2. The refrigerant circuit according to claim 1, wherein a refrigerant flowing through the internal heat exchanger is in thermal communication with a refrigerant in the accumulator.
 3. The refrigerant circuit according to claim 1, wherein the first branch and the second branch form parallel circuits in respect of the combined component.
 4. The refrigerant circuit according to claim 1, further comprising a means for interconnecting the gas cooler to the compressor, the gas cooler to the combined component, and the combined component to the compressor.
 5. The refrigerant circuit according to claim 4, wherein the means for interconnecting the gas cooler to the compressor, the gas cooler to the combined component, and the combined component to the compressor is a refrigerant line.
 6. The refrigerant circuit according to claim 1, wherein the evaporators are disposed downstream of the expansion members in each of the first branch and the second branch.
 7. The refrigerant circuit according to claim 1, further comprising a manifold disposed on the combined component, wherein the manifold facilitates communication between the combined component and the first branch and the second branch.
 8. The refrigerant circuit according to claim 7, wherein the manifold includes a first double connection element that facilitates communication between the manifold and the expansion member and manifold and the evaporator in the first branch.
 9. The refrigerant circuit according to claim 8, wherein the manifold includes a second double connection element that facilitates communication between the manifold and the expansion member and the manifold and the evaporator in the second branch.
 10. The refrigerant circuit according to claim 9, wherein the first double connection element is disposed in parallel and opposite to the second double connection element.
 11. The refrigerant circuit according to claim 9, wherein the first double connection element is disposed in parallel and above the second double connection element.
 12. The refrigerant circuit according to claim 9, wherein each of the double connection elements includes a single screw for fastening.
 13. The refrigerant circuit according to claim 9, wherein each of the double connection elements includes two screws for fastening.
 14. A refrigerant circuit system comprising: a compressor; a gas cooler in fluid communication with the compressor; a combined component in fluid communication with the compressor and the gas cooler, the combined component including an internal heat exchanger and an accumulator, the internal heat exchanger including a high-pressure entrance and a pair of high pressure exits, the accumulator including a pair of low pressure entrances and a low pressure exit; a refrigerant line for interconnecting the gas cooler to the compressor, the gas cooler to the combined component, and the combined component to the compressor; a first branch including an evaporator and an expansion member, wherein the first branch is in fluid communication with one of the high pressure exits of the internal heat exchanger and one of the low pressure entrances of the accumulator; and a second branch including an evaporator and an expansion member, wherein the second branch is in fluid communication with the other of the high pressure exits of the internal heat exchanger and the other of the low pressure entrances of the accumulator, and wherein the evaporators of the first branch and the second branch are disposed downstream of the expansion members, the first branch and the second branch forming parallel circuits in respect of the combined component.
 15. The refrigerant circuit according to claim 14, wherein a refrigerant flowing through the internal heat exchanger is in thermal communication with a refrigerant in the accumulator.
 16. The refrigerant circuit according to claim 14, further comprising a manifold disposed on the combined component, wherein the manifold facilitates communication between the combined component and the first branch and the second branch.
 17. The refrigerant circuit according to claim 16, wherein the manifold includes a first double connection element that facilitates communication between the manifold and the expansion member and the manifold and the evaporator in the first branch.
 18. The refrigerant circuit according to claim 17, wherein the manifold includes a second double connection element that facilitates communication between the manifold and the expansion member and the manifold and the evaporator in the second branch.
 19. A refrigerant circuit system comprising: a compressor; a gas cooler in fluid communication with the compressor; a combined component in fluid communication with the compressor and the gas cooler, the combined component including an internal heat exchanger and an accumulator, the internal heat exchanger including a high-pressure entrance and a pair of high pressure exits, the accumulator including a pair of low pressure entrances and a low pressure exit; a refrigerant line for interconnecting the gas cooler to the compressor, the gas cooler to the combined component, and the combined component to the compressor; a pair of branches including an evaporator and an expansion member, wherein one of the branches is in fluid communication with one of the high pressure exits of the internal heat exchanger and one of the low pressure entrances of the accumulator and the other of the branches is in fluid communication with the other of the high pressure exits of the internal heat exchanger and the other of the low pressure entrances of the accumulator, and wherein the evaporators are disposed downstream of the expansion members, and the pair of branches form parallel circuits in respect of the combined component; and a manifold disposed on the combined component, wherein the manifold facilitates communication between the combined component and the pair of branches, the manifold including a first double connection element that facilitates communication between the manifold and the expansion member and manifold and the evaporator in the one of the branches, and a second double connection element that facilitates communication between the manifold and the expansion member and the manifold and the evaporator in the other of the branches.
 20. The refrigerant circuit according to claim 19, wherein a refrigerant flowing through the internal heat exchanger is in thermal communication with a refrigerant in the accumulator. 